Hightower to Step Down as Deputy Commerce Secretary

Former business leader helped manage some of Commerce's most complicated, high-risk initiatives

Deputy Commerce Secretary
Dennis F. Hightower announced today that he plans to step down effective August 27.
He’ll be returning to the private sector to resume his
work on corporate governance and training and developing the next
generation of global business leaders.
At Commerce, Hightower brought skills he learned at the top levels of
the business world to help shepherd some of Commerce’s most complicated
initiatives, including satellite acquisition, cybersecurity and the
Recovery Act’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

“We
deeply appreciate Dennis’ service, especially the mentoring he provided
to senior Commerce managers,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said.
“He took on some of the Commerce Department’s most difficult management
challenges, and in every case, those programs are on a better footing
today because of his diligent work.”

Before
coming to Commerce, Hightower was chief executive officer of Europe
Online Networks S.A., a privately held broadband interactive
entertainment company based in Luxembourg. From 1987 to 1996, he was a
senior executive of The Walt Disney Company, where he led multi-billion
dollar enterprises as president of Television & Telecommunications
and president of Consumer Products, Europe/Middle East and Africa.

In
addition to his work in the private sector, Hightower has also trained
future business leaders as a former professor of management at Harvard
Business School, where he focused on leadership, building emerging
markets and global general management.

Hightower
most recently served on the Boards of Directors of Accenture, Domino’s
Pizza, Lightfleet (a start-up high technology company), and
privately-held Brown Capital Management. He has formerly served as a
board member of The Gillette Company, Northwest Airlines, PanAmSat
Corporation, Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, The TJX Companies, Inc.,
and as a member of the Price Waterhouse Chairman’s Advisory Council.

Hightower is a decorated Vietnam veteran and has served as a member of the Defense Business Board. He holds
an M.B.A. degree from Harvard Business School and a B.S. degree and honorary doctorate from Howard University.